Competition News VC Artist Violist Emad Zolfaghari Wins Windsor Festival International String Competition

03 October 2026

21-year-old Canadian violist Emad Zolfaghari has been crowned the winner, becoming the first violist in WFISC history to take first prize.

Zolfaghari receives a £5,000 cash prize, a solo recording with Champs Hill Records, a performance in Windsor Castle during the 2027 Windsor Festival with Associate Orchestra, a concerto commission from composer Sally Beamish, featuring a world premiere performance in London with Orpheus Sinfonia in June 2027, plus recital opportunities including at La Mortella (Ischia, Italy) and major UK Festivals.

Also for the first time, the jury awarded a joint second prize to violinists Rokas Diržys, age 18, and Sophia Werner, age 23. The Orchestra Prize and Audience Prize went to Rokas Diržys.

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The final round featured the competitors performing with the Orpheus Sinfonia and conductor Rory McDonald at Eton College's School Hall.

Jurors for the 2026 competition include Joji Hattori, Hsin-yun Huang, Raphael Wallfisch, Sally Beamish, Alexander van Ingen, Tom Philpott, and Martin Denny.

"The inaugural Grand Concerto Final with Orpheus Sinfonia at Eton College was a monumental success and a fitting celebration for our 10th anniversary edition," says Martin Denny, Director of Windsor Festival. "The level of artistry displayed by all three young musicians was astounding, resulting in an exceptionally close decision for our jury. We are thrilled to celebrate Emad Zolfaghari as our very first viola winner, alongside Sophia Werner and Rokas Diržys who all gave breathtaking performances. We look forward to supporting Emad as he embarks on this next transformative stage of his career."

Canadian violist and VC Artist Emad Zolfaghari came to international attention after winning the first prize and audience prize at the 2024 Primrose International Viola Competition. Emad was accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music at age 16, where he studied with Hsin-Yun Huang. He is currently a Kovner Fellow at the Juilliard School, studying with Hsin-Yun Huang and Cynthia Phelps.

He is the first prize winner of the 2023 Irving M. Klein International String Competition, first prize winner of the International 2023 Morningside Music Bridge Competition, second prize winner of the 2022 Johansen International String Competition, and third prize winner of the 2023 Concours OSM String Competition.

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Emad has appeared as a soloist with several major symphony orchestras, including l’Orchestre Métropolitain in Maison Symphonique de Montréal under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Montreal Symphony in Maison Symphonique de Montréal, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Roy Thomson Hall, the National Philharmonic in Strathmore Hall, the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, and the National Metropolitan Philharmonic.